SMITH ALFRED C

CW2 Alfred "Al" C. Smith was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 09/23/2013 at the age of 78.0 from Alzheimer's
Lakeside, TX
Flight Classes 63-7WT and 63-7
Date of Birth 09/28/1935
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 1 BDE 1 CAV in 65-66
Call sign in Vietnam FULLBACK 13
This information was provided by Sammie Williams

More detail on this person: Alfred C. "Al" Smith, 77, passed away Monday, September 23, 2013.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Biggers Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the research of Alzheimer's, the North Texas Humane Society or the Lake Worth Area Historical Society.

Al was born in Galena, Kansas and was raised and attended schools in Blackjack and Riverton Kansas. He graduated high school in Galena, in 1953, then entered the US Army; serving in Germany, Greenland, and Alaska. In 1963 he entered helicopter pilot training and graduated as a Warrant Officer. Flying helicopters in Vietnam in 1965-1966, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and numerous Air Medals. He was honorably discharged in 1967 as a Chief Warrant Officer. Later, he flew for Tennessee Valley Authority, owned and operated a grocery store, and worked as a sales representative prior to becoming one of the first Civilian Helicopter Pilots for the City of Fort Worth. He retired as the Fort Worth Police Department Chief Pilot and Division Commander in 1993. For the last 13 years of his career with the Police Department, he was a Reserve Police Officer for Fort Worth. Since their marriage in 1977 he and his wife Karen resided in Lakeside, where he also held volunteer jobs as a City Councilman, Lay Municipal Judge and Road Commissioner. He held memberships in the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, Airborne Law Enforcement Association, the Fort Worth Police Officer's Association, the Distinguished Flying Cross Society, the Lake Worth Area Historical Society and the Lake Worth Boating and Ski Club.

Al was preceded in death by his father and mother, Allen and Edith Smith; sister, Evelyn Barnes; and brothers Don Smith and C. Allen Smith.

Al is survived by his wife, Karen Reddick Smith of Lakeside; mother-in-law, Mary Lou Reddick of Lake Worth; brother, Orval Smith and wife, Rosia of Galena, Kansas; several nieces and nephews.

This information was last updated 06/13/2012

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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